Conformity,

Deviance, and
Social Control
CONF0RMITY
Refers to the process of
altering one’s thoughts and
actions to adapt to the
accepted behavior within his
or her group or society.
Social Psychology considers
conformity as a product of
pressure exerted by the group on
the individual
Herbert Kelman identifies three types
of Conformity:
Compliance,identification, and
internalization or acceptance.
HERBERT KELMAN identifies three types of conformity

1. Compliance – refers to the outward conformity to social pressure but privately

disagreeing with it.

2. Identification- the adoption of certain behaviors that enable the individual to have a satisfying relationship with the
members of his or her group.

3. Internalization or acceptance- the process of accepting the social norms, attitudes, roles, and values transmitted by
people and social groups within society as one’s own.
Deviance-is defined as a behavior that elicits a strong negative
reaction from group members and involves actions that violate
commonly held social norms

Emile Durkheim uses the term anomie to refer to a condition where social becomes ineffective due to the loss of
shared values and sense of purpose in society.
Sociologist, Robert Merton relates deviance to the strain felt by individuals whenever social norms conflict with reality.
STRUCTURAL STRAIN THEORY- a
perspective that the tensions and strains
between socially-approved goals and an
individual’s ability to meet them will lead to
deviance.
SUBCULTURAL VIEW- a perspective that
points to the emergence of deviant behavior within
certain groups in society or subcultures.
-very prone to engage in deviant or criminal
behavior.
Ex.gangs
Labeling theory- a view that deviance only
emerges when society begins labeling certain
actions as “deviant” or “undesirable”.

-negative views regarding the group

-people are more prone to display deviant behavior
when their family members or other people close to
them to display deviant behavior.
CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE-analyzes deviance in
the framework of competing interests between social
groups and the maintenance of power among the
elites.

Example: groups include the poor and ethnic or

religious minorities.
 BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY-a view that
suggests a direct relationship between social order and
deviance, and that maintaining even an appearance of
order is sufficient to discourage deviance.

Ex.maintaining peace order, cleanliness in areas associated

with criminality to discourage the occurrence of petty
crimes and vandalism.
Social control and Sanctions

SOCIAL CONTROL-any systematic means and

practices used to maintain norms, rules, and laws; regulate
conflict; and discourage deviant behavior.
SANCTIONS-are the most common means of social
control, and are often employed to address conflicts and
violations of social norms.
FORMAL SANCTIONS- sanctions provided for by
laws and other regulations in society.

INFORMAL SANCTIONS- sanctions most

commonly imposed by smaller societies,
communities, or groups and are often arbitrarily
agreed upon by members of the group or society.
 Refers to the structure of
relationships between social actors
or groups, composed of
connections, ties and linkages
between people, their groups, and
Netwo the larger social institutions to
rk which they all belong.
 Refers to the structure of
relationships between social actors
or groups, composed of
connections, ties and linkages
between people, their groups, and
Netwo the larger social institutions to
rk which they all belong.